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| The Metz L56 ladder provides a 50 per cent improvement in rescue performance |
The Kenyan government has placed an order for Metz Aerials to be delivered to a fire department in Nairobi.
Following an order from the Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development, Metz Aerials has delivered an L56 aerial ladder to the Nairobi City Council Fire Department in Kenya. Together with several Rosenbauer pumper trucks, this customized piece of equipment forms an integral part of the "Nairobi Growth and Development Strategy" that has been drawn up for the booming Kenyan capital. The aerial has an integrated elevator for three persons, which facilitates an extremely short rescue cycle during emergency operations.
Ten fire alarms daily
By 2030, it is forecast that the population of Nairobi will rise to over twelve million and the safety and rescue services in the city are already subject to severe demands. The Nairobi City Council Fire Department receives 300 calls monthly; a figure that excludes unreported fires that are do not feature in the statistics.
Tempo and safety
In the course of related strategic measures implemented by the governmental institutions in Kenya, during April Rosenbauer supplied a TLF 5,000 and two additional TLF 10,000 pumper trucks to Nairobi. Metz Aerials has now followed this up with the handover of the L56 complete with elevator for three persons. The elevator travels at 1.6 m per second and due to its design allows rapid and safe transfers from the cage. A firefighter can ride in the cage and provide assistance and in combination, these features reduce cycle times and increase rescue capacity. In fact, eighteen people can be transported down in twelve minutes from a maximum height, as compared to the twelve that could be saved in the same time using a two-person elevator. The L56 thus provides a 50 per cent improvement in rescue performance. The Metz L56 in Nairobi is based on a Mercedes Benz Actros and is equipped with a 300 KW (408 PS) engine, Telligent automatic transmission and a driver's cab with a low roof. The vehicle has a total height of 396 cm.
Requirements in a nutshell
The aerial ladder consists of six sections with a working height of up to 56 m and a cage floor height of 54 m. Control via a CAN bus, a 3D load measurement system and a fold over cage for three persons are further key ladder design features. The rotating branch pipe at the tip of the ladder is remote controlled and the podium incorporates aluminum/synthetics technology. The equipment range of the L56 also includes a generator, a wind gauge, a Target Control System (TCS) and a Vertical Rescue System (VRS). These features are supplemented by excellent outreach, which means that even wind speeds of 5 on the Beaufort Scale hold no terrors for the L56.
Top references, excellent service
The L56 made its debut at the Interschutz in June 2010 and Kenya's decision to opt for a vehicle from Metz Aerials in Karlsruhe was based on the company's excellent references, its reputation for excellent service and ability to supply technical features precisely in line with stated customer requirements.
